Matches to Air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
MLS NEXT Pro today announced its 2025 regular season schedule and playoff format. The League’s fourth season will begin Friday, March 7 – the earliest in its history. Twenty-nine clubs will compete again this year, 27 MLS affiliates and two independent teams; Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC will look to build upon last year’s successful debut seasons.
The complete 2025 regular season schedule is available on MLSNEXTPro.com
High potential soccer players in North America continue to excel in MLS NEXT Pro and advance through the pro player pathway. Since the launch of the league in 2022, more than 155 players have signed MLS first team contracts after competing in MLS NEXT Pro, many going on to have an impact on their MLS teams and national teams.
Most recently, several MLS NEXT Pro alumni participated in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s international friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica. Max Arfsten (CLB) and Patrick Agyemang (CLT) made their national team debuts, joining fellow MLS NEXT Pro alumni and USMNT returners such as Patrick Schulte (CLB), Jack McGlynn (PHI) and Benjamin Cremaschi (MIA) in January’s call-ups.
MLS NEXT PRO ON APPLE TV
For the third consecutive year the majority of regular season matches, in addition to all Decision Day matches, playoff matches and MLS NEXT Pro Cup, will be available to watch live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Available in more than 100 countries and regions, MLS Season Pass can be viewed on billions of devices through the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, game consoles, and online at tv.apple.com. The remainder of regular season matches will stream live on MLSNEXTPro.com.
SCHEDULE FORMAT
The 2025 regular season will consist of 406 matches, with each Club playing 28 matches – 14 at home and 14 away - over a 30-week span. Clubs will face each divisional opponent a maximum of three times as well as other intraconference rivals to round out this year's schedule.
OPENING WEEKEND
Opening Weekend of the 2025 season will feature 12 matches across three days, headlined by North Texas SC beginning its title defense on Sunday, March 9. The 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Champions will start the new season by hosting a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Final (vs. St Louis CITY2, 8:30 p.m. ET).
Opening Night – Friday, March 7 – will see four matches, including a rematch of the 2024 Western Conference Quarterfinal as Ventura County FC hosts Tacoma Defiance (10 p.m. ET).
Saturday, March 8 features a pair of matches, with Inter Miami CF II hosting Chattanooga FC (7 p.m. ET) before Houston Dynamo 2 faces Sporting Kansas City II at (8:30 p.m. ET).
Opening Weekend concludes Sunday, March 9 with six matches, including a showdown between Western Conference contenders LAFC2 and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (10 p.m. ET).
RIVALRIES REVISITED
Regional and conference rivalries take center stage early in the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season, with multiple showcase derby matches taking place in the first months of play.
New York Red Bulls II faces New York City FC II in the first of the two Hudson River Derbies of the MLS NEXT Pro season on March 30. Red Bulls II will host their cross-town rivals once again on July 20.
The first Independent Derby of 2025 takes place on April 13 as Carolina Core FC welcomes Chattanooga FC to Truist Point, with a second meeting between the clubs scheduled for August 16. Chattanooga FC hosts the third and final match of the regular season between the two clubs on September 21.
Tacoma Defiance hosts Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 in the first of three showdowns in the Pacific Northwest on April 6. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 hosts Tacoma Defiance in the second of three fixtures between the clubs on May 14, with the third fixture between the two hosted by Tacoma on September 4.
Inter Miami CF II hosts intrastate rival Orlando City B in the first of three fixtures between the Floridian clubs on April 15. The Young Lions of Orlando City B hosts their rivals from South Florida on May 17, with the final fixture between the teams hosted by Inter Miami on September 14.
FC Cincinnati 2 hosts Columbus Crew 2 on April 13 in the first of two “Heck is Plausible” rivalry matches, with the Crew welcoming their intrastate rivals to Columbus on May 18.
Houston Dynamo 2 hosts the defending champions North Texas SC in a Lone Star State Showdown on March 20 and again on July 13. North Texas plays host to their Texan rivals on May 18 for the final of three regular season fixtures between the clubs.
LAFC2 hosts cross-town rivals Ventura County FC on March 14, in the first of three fixtures between the clubs in the 2025 regular season. Ventura County FC will host the remaining pair of matches against the Black and Gold on May 9 and July 20.
DECISION DAY
Twenty-eight of the League’s 29 clubs will compete on the final day of the regular season, Sunday, October 5. Fourteen matches will take place to determine final playoff positioning, with eight teams in each conference qualifying for the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. Eastern Conference matches will kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET, followed by the Western Conference at 4:00 p.m. ET. All Decision Day matches will air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
PICK-YOUR-OPPONENT RETURNS
The 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs will feature 15 single elimination matches over the course of four consecutive weekends, with three rounds beginning the weekend of October 17 and culminating with MLS NEXT Pro Cup the weekend of November 7.
Matchups during the first two rounds of the Playoffs will be determined through the Pick-Your-Opponent format that has garnered much acclaim since its inception in 2023. This season will mark the third straight year the unique process has been utilized by MLS NEXT Pro.
All MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs and MLS NEXT Pro Cup will air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
